Kate celebrates 50 years of nursing

Kate Phillips, a staff nurse based at St Ann’s Medical Centre, joined colleagues at a celebration this month of her dedication to nursing. Kate has been nursing since 1966 and plans to retire next year, when she turns 69. She started her career in Doncaster, at Montague Hospital and the Royal Infirmary, before making the move to St Ann’s as a community staff nurse, where she’s been ever since.

Kate said: “I always knew I wanted to be a nurse and I still enjoy it as much today as I did 50 years ago. I love meeting people and being able to care for them when they are unwell.

“The NHS has changed vastly over the past 50 years but no matter what changes, patient care will always be at the very centre of everything we do and that is why I love nursing. I always thought I would retire at 65, but it just never happened. I still enjoy the work I do, and I’m sure I will until the day I do retire.

“The team I work with are brilliant, we support each other and work together – I couldn’t ask for better colleagues. When I do retire I imagine I’ll look into volunteering.”